Raffaella

Testaccio

Min. 1 - Max. 4

Italian, English

I grew up in the kitchen of the family trattoria we’d owned for generations in Northern Italy, in Mantua. When I finished my studies in the early 80s, I moved to Rome and worked as a journalist. For many years, I wrote for Gambero Rosso, a well-known, innovative Italian food and wine magazine, and later also a television channel. I loved cooking since childhood, thanks to my grandmother, who was wonderfully talented. But my style at the stove today is a melting pot of different traditions. First came the rich traditions of Mantua, ancient recipes handed down from the Renaissance court of the Gonzaga family, who reigned in our city for centuries.

Then I absorbed the traditions of Rome, the city that became my home and that I love. During my work as a journalist, I interviewed many Italian and international chefs, and learned their secrets as I hung around their kitchens watching them work. Writing the biography of chef Fulvio Pierangeli, one of Italy’s greatest talents, was an influential experience. I also had the privilege of interning in the kitchen of Ferran Adrià, a Spanish chef considered one of the 20th century’s most revolutionary.

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The many paths to perfect tomato sauce

2,5 h

Pasta with tomato sauce is the first cooking lesson I suggest. Making tomato sauce is simple, but there are secrets to turning out an unforgettable one. Made well, nothing is better on pasta. I’ll show you three different tomato sauces, and suggest ways to create your own personal version. We’ll experiment using our sauce on home-made fettuccine or pappardelle and on top quality artisanal dry pasta such as spaghetti, rigatoni or paccheri.

My sister and I had an absolutely fantastic lesson with Rafaella!! She opened up her wonderful home to us and showed us about 7 recipes with artichoke. She even went out and found us the artichoke, which is very difficult as it’s not the season in Italy right now. The food we cooked was so delicious and we were served with wine and water in her terrace. Couldn’t have asked for anything better! Thank you so much.